Primum Non-Nocere

Primum Non Nocere
Ronan S. Estoque, MA, DPA

“First of all, do no harm”. This is one of the major dictums that physicians adhere to. The same, I believe should also apply to teachers. While physicians are principally concerned with the physical well being of their patients, teachers on the other hand is ultimately concerned with the intellectual and psychological well being of their students.

Teachers are not doing their principal function when they are not teaching, when they are teaching things that they really shouldn’t be teaching, when there is dishonesty, when there is a dereliction of duty, when there is an abuse of authority inherent to one’s position, and when there is an offense against decorum and morality. Possible offenses are far too many to enumerate but the tenet of primum non nocere will always be an accurate barometer in determining whether there is a violation or just a perceived violation inaccurately produced by idle minds.

Teaching is one of the noblest profession one could possibly aspire for. In China, to be addressed as “teacher” is a great honor. Historically, Jesus Christ didn’t even aspired to become a lawyer but rather aspired to be worthy of the honorific title of “teacher”, long before he was considered a “prophet”; he was first and foremost a “teacher”. It is sad to note that teachers in this republic are not earning what is due to them (to commensurate to their actual contribution to the sacred task of nation building), what is even sadder is that even the honor and respect which is theirs by birthright is even being withheld wittingly and unwittingly.

Sociologically speaking, a culture is accurately measured by the way they treat their teachers. If we are to go about by this perspective, we failed the challenge miserably. Tons of promises were already made with regards to the betterment of status of teachers – to this date however, such have remained promises. Plans and programs were never really translated to actions. Teachers are still miserable. The betterment of their status is still a promise and indirectly, there is a reaction. Teachers are migrating where the grass is greener.

When there are approximately around 3000/day of overseas foreign workers who leave this republic to serve some other countries and when a significant percentage of these figures are teachers, it is easy to predict that there would be crisis in the near future. Unfortunately, this observation was valid ten (10) years ago, the crisis and the future is now imploding right before our very eyes.

The crisis is aptly tagged as low quality education. Now discussing low quality education will not trap me, such is entirely another article altogether – suffice it to say that we are now reaping our low (and none) investments in education.

Teachers are not saints. They do have their own list of shortcomings and horror inspired stories. The fabric of teaching in this republic however is of good material. While some elect to leave for greener pasture, majority of teachers decides everyday to stay and help in weaving a better nation.